JP2009270940A - Automatic analysis system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To shorten the time (turnaround time) from receiving of emergency examination to the output of a result in a laboratory. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic analysis system comprises a means for allowing an apparatus itself to recognize the occurrence of the emergency examination in an early stage before an emergency analyte is supplied to the apparatus, and a mechanism for previously registering a required preparing process in the apparatus before analyte measurement. Thus, the preparing process can be performed in parallel in the apparatus in the time period of a preparing process using a facility different from the apparatus, and the analyte measurement can be started immediately after the emergency analyte is supplied to the apparatus. This allows significant shortening of the time (turnaround time) from receiving of the emergency examination to the result output in the laboratory. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer for analyzing a component of a biological sample, and more particularly to an automatic analyzer system capable of efficiently operating an emergency test.

  Automatic analyzers that perform qualitative and quantitative analysis of biological samples such as blood and urine are remarkably widespread mainly in large hospitals and laboratory centers due to their rapid analysis and high reproducibility compared to the methods used. Such an automatic analyzer distinguishes between general specimens that are measured as routine work in the laboratory, such as general patient specimens such as hospitalization and outpatients, and specimens for medical examinations, and emergency specimens that are used for emergency cases. Some automatic analyzers have a function that enables analysis of an urgent sample prior to a general sample. An automatic analyzer having such a function is described in Patent Document 1, for example.

JP-A-5-346432

  Conventional response to urgent samples is performed by changing the analysis schedule, such as analyzing urgent samples prior to general samples, or interrupting urgent samples during general sample analysis and measuring first. It was. However, even if an emergency sample is measured in preference to a general sample, if there is no calibration data or accuracy control data that is valid at that time, or if there is insufficient advance preparation such as equipment maintenance necessary for measurement, There was a problem that reporting of the analysis result was delayed.

  An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis system capable of shortening the time (turnaround time) from acceptance of an emergency test in a laboratory to output of results.

  Considering the workflow of the entire laboratory, there are several preparation processes after the laboratory recognizes the occurrence of an emergency test and before the analysis is started by putting the emergency sample into the apparatus. This preparation process is performed using equipment other than the automatic analyzer. For example, the sample attributes are input to a host computer such as a clinical laboratory system, the sample is collected from the patient, and the collected sample is collected. Preparations such as separating the serum through a centrifuge and dispensing the obtained serum into a sample container for measurement with an automatic analyzer.

  When starting the execution of such a preparation process, it is known in advance that an urgent sample is set in the automatic analyzer. Therefore, the calibration required by the automatic analyzer, measurement of the quality control sample, By starting the maintenance of the apparatus necessary for the measurement, the measurement preparation on the automatic analyzer side is completed when the emergency sample actually arrives at the automatic analyzer, so that a quick result report is possible.

  Specifically, for example, an automatic analyzer is provided with means for recognizing the occurrence of an emergency test in advance prior to putting an emergency sample into the apparatus and performing an analysis start operation. An emergency test generation button is provided on the operation unit screen of the analyzer, and pressing this button causes the apparatus to recognize the occurrence of an emergency test before the emergency sample is inserted into the apparatus or the analysis start operation is performed. After recognition of occurrence of an emergency test, a pre-registered in-device preparation process is performed before the emergency sample is loaded. As a result, a preparatory process performed in a facility separate from the device, that is, a preparatory process in the device during the time period when specimen attribute registration to the clinical laboratory system, blood collection, centrifugation, and dispensing into the test container is performed. It is possible to reduce the time from the request for emergency inspection to the output of the result.

  As means for recognizing the occurrence of an emergency test in advance by the apparatus, means other than the buttons on the screen are possible. For example, the occurrence of an emergency test recognized by other equipment by connecting the equipment with other equipment in the laboratory, that is, a host computer such as a clinical laboratory system, a centrifuge, and a dispensing device for a test container via a network It is also possible for the device to receive information.

  It is also possible to receive emergency examination occurrence information from a mobile phone / PHS outside the examination room or another computer connected to the Internet using a public line network.

  Furthermore, a screen for registering in advance a preparation process to be performed in the apparatus when an occurrence of an emergency test is recognized is provided. As these preparation processes, two types of preparation processes can be registered for each inspection item, such as a preparation process related to the entire device, such as device maintenance, and calibration for each inspection item, measurement for quality control, and pre-stirring of reagents. Like that. Thereby, according to the operation conditions of a laboratory or a medical facility, it is possible to arbitrarily set a preparation process for an inspection item with a high frequency of occurrence of an emergency inspection. In addition, when the occurrence of an emergency test is recognized, if the necessary maintenance is already performed on the device or there is valid calibration data and quality control data for the test item to be measured, the preparation process It is possible to optimize the emergency inspection efficiency by providing a logic for automatically skipping the above in the apparatus.

  It is possible to shorten the time (turnaround time) from acceptance of an emergency test in the laboratory to output of the result.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  First, an emergency test acceptance button will be described as one means for causing the automatic analyzer to recognize the occurrence of an emergency test. FIG. 1 shows an example of a display screen on the automatic analyzer. In FIG. 1, 1-1 is a status line representing the state of the apparatus, 1-2 is a JOB menu button, 1-3 is a submenu sheet, 1-4 is an operation area, and 1-5 is a global menu area. The global menu area is a common display area that is always displayed on any screen among a plurality of screens displayed on the automatic analyzer. An emergency examination acceptance button 1-6 is provided in the global menu area 1-5. As a result, when the user recognizes the necessity of the emergency inspection, the emergency inspection acceptance button 1-6 can be immediately pressed regardless of which screen the apparatus displays, and the apparatus can recognize the occurrence of the emergency inspection. be able to.

  Next, an example of another means for causing the automatic analyzer to recognize the occurrence of an emergency test will be described with reference to FIG.

  2-1 is an example of the equipment configuration of the examination room. 2-2 is an automatic analyzer, and 2-3 is an operation unit of the apparatus including a display screen.

  Reference numeral 2-4 denotes an analysis unit of the apparatus. The computer of the operation section 2-3 is replaced with another facility in the laboratory, that is, a host computer such as the clinical test system shown in 2-5, a centrifuge 2-6, a specimen dispensing device 2-7, and the like 2 Connect with -8 network. Thereby, when these separate facilities recognize the occurrence of an emergency test prior to the automatic analyzer, the apparatus can receive the information by network communication. Furthermore, emergency inspection information can be obtained from a device outside the examination room using a public network. 2-9 is a public network, 2-10 is a mobile phone or PHS, and 2-11 is an external computer. According to these configurations, the occurrence of the emergency inspection recognized outside the laboratory can be received immediately by the apparatus, and the preparatory operation in the apparatus can be performed at an earlier stage.

  Next, a method for registering a preparatory operation related to the entire apparatus among necessary preparatory operations when recognizing the occurrence of an emergency inspection will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows an example of a registration screen for the emergency inspection device advance preparation operation. Reference numeral 3-1 denotes a display area for a list of preparatory operation functions that can be registered, and reference numeral 3-2 denotes a check box for selecting which preparatory operation is automatically performed when an emergency inspection occurs in the function list. As a result, the operator can select one or a plurality of preparatory actions, and by pressing the update button 3-3, the selected contents are stored in the storage device. When the device recognizes an emergency test, it automatically performs the selected preparatory action. When the 3-4 cancel button is pressed, the contents being edited are canceled.

  Next, a registration method of necessary preparation operations for each inspection item among preparation operations necessary when the occurrence of an emergency inspection is recognized will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 4 is an emergency inspection item registration screen. In FIG. 4, 4-1 is a list of inspection items that can be measured by the apparatus, and 4-2 is a list of inspection items for performing an emergency inspection. When one of the test items 4-1 is selected with a mouse or the like and the 4-3 add button is pressed, the selected item is added as an emergency test item to the 4-2 emergency test item list. Conversely, when one of the 4-2 emergency inspection items is selected and the release button 4-4 is pressed, the selected item is released from the emergency inspection item. By pressing the 4-5 update button, the selected contents are stored in the storage device. When the 4-6 cancel button is pressed, the contents being edited are canceled. FIG. 5 is an emergency operation item preparation operation registration screen for selecting a necessary preparation operation for each inspection item registered on the emergency inspection item registration screen of FIG. In the emergency inspection item 5-1, the contents registered on the emergency inspection item registration screen of FIG. 4 are displayed. When one of the 5-1 emergency inspection items is selected, a necessary operation list 5-2 for each item is displayed by a pull-down menu or the like. The operator can select one or a plurality of preparatory operations to be automatically performed at the time of measuring the inspection item by using a check box. By pressing an update button 5-3, the selected content is stored in the storage device. When the cancel button 5-4 is pressed, the contents being edited are canceled. When the apparatus recognizes an emergency examination by using the setting function shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, it automatically executes a preparatory operation for each set item.

  Next, an example of a processing flow in which the apparatus determines whether a registered preparation operation is actually necessary and skips an unnecessary preparation operation will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 6, “Disposal of used reaction container” is registered as a preparatory operation for the entire apparatus, inspection item “AAA” is registered as an emergency inspection item, and “calibration” is registered as a preliminary preparation necessary for measurement of “AAA”. This is an example of the case.

  In step 6-1, the information on the reaction disk on the apparatus database is read.

  In step 6-2, it is checked whether the used reaction container remains on the reaction disk. If it remains, the process proceeds to Step 6-3, and a discarded operation of the used reaction container is executed. If not, the operation is skipped and the process proceeds to Step 6-4. In step 6-4, calibration information on the apparatus database is read. In step 6-5, it is checked whether valid calibration data for the emergency inspection item 'AAA' already exists. If it does not exist, the process proceeds to step 6-6 to perform calibration, but if it already exists, the operation is skipped. By incorporating the determination logic as described above into the apparatus, unnecessary operations can be omitted, an immediate measurement operation can be started, and waste of reagents and consumables can be prevented.

  Next, the effect of shortening the turnaround time of the emergency inspection in the laboratory according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

  7-1 shows an example of a measurement sequence for emergency inspection according to the conventional technique. When the laboratory recognizes the occurrence of an emergency test, preparatory processes such as request registration, centrifugation, and sample dispensing are performed in a facility separate from the apparatus. Thereafter, the dispensed sample is put into the apparatus by the operator. Then, the apparatus performs sample measurement after executing preparatory processes in the apparatus such as disposal of used reaction containers and calibration.

  Therefore, the turnaround time t1 from the occurrence of the emergency test according to the conventional technique to the result output shown in 7-2 is the sum of the three times of the preparation process in another facility, the preparation process in the analyzer, and the sample measurement. . On the other hand, an example of an emergency test measurement sequence when the present invention is applied is shown in 7-3. The analyzer itself recognizes the occurrence of an emergency test in advance via a button or communication on the screen. Then, since the preparation process in the separate equipment and the preparation process in the analyzer can be performed in parallel in time, the turnaround time t2 from the occurrence of the emergency inspection to the result output at the time of application of the present invention shown in 7-4 is conventionally It is possible to significantly reduce the time t1.

It is a figure which shows an example of the emergency test | inspection reception button as a means for making an automatic analyzer recognize a generation | occurrence | production of an emergency test | inspection in one Embodiment of this invention. In one embodiment of the present invention, connection between the automatic analyzer as a means for causing the automatic analyzer to recognize the occurrence of an emergency test and other equipment in the laboratory, and connection with other devices outside the laboratory It is a figure which shows an example. It is a figure which shows an example of the registration screen of the apparatus preliminary preparation operation | movement for emergency inspection in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the emergency inspection item registration screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the emergency operation item preparation operation registration screen in one Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the logic which an apparatus determines whether the registered preparation operation | movement is actually required, and skips an unnecessary preparation operation | movement. It is the figure shown about the shortening effect of the turnaround time of the emergency test | inspection in the laboratory by applying this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1-1 Status Line Representing Device Status 1-2 JOB Menu Button 1-3 Sub Menu Sheet 1-4 Operation Area 1-5 Global Menu Area 1-6 Emergency Exam Accepting Button 2-1 Example of Equipment Configuration in Examination Room 2-2 Automatic analyzer 2-3 Operation unit of device including display screen 2-4 Analysis unit 2-5 Upper computer 2-6 Centrifuge 2-7 Sample dispensing device 2-8 Network 2-9 Public network 2-10 Cellular phone or PHS
2-11 External Computer 3-1 Display Area for List of Preparatory Operation Functions Available for Registration 3-2 Check Boxes 3-3, 4-5, 5-3 Update Button 3-4, 4-6, 5-4 Cancel Button 4 -1 List of inspection items that can be measured by the device 4-2 List of inspection items for emergency inspection 4-3 Add button 4-4 Release button 5-1 Emergency inspection items 5-2 List of necessary preparatory actions for each item

Claims (8)

An emergency inspection request recognition means for recognizing the occurrence of an emergency inspection request;
Instructing means for instructing the automatic analyzer to execute a preparatory operation necessary for the emergency inspection based on the fact that the emergency inspection request recognition means has recognized the emergency inspection request;
An automatic analysis system characterized by comprising The automatic analysis system according to claim 1,
The automatic analysis system is characterized in that the preparation operation is at least one selected from calibration, quality control, and reagent agitation. The automatic analysis system according to claim 2,
An automatic analysis system comprising a designation unit for designating the preparation operation in advance. The automatic analysis system according to claim 1,
An automatic analysis system comprising an emergency inspection item registration means for registering in advance an emergency inspection item for executing a preparation operation necessary for the emergency inspection. The automatic analysis system according to claim 3,
An automatic analysis system comprising a preparatory operation registration means for preliminarily registering the contents of a preparatory operation to be executed for each emergency inspection item registered by the registration means. The automatic analysis system according to claim 4, wherein
An automatic analysis system comprising control means for performing control so as to skip unnecessary preparatory actions among preparatory actions registered by the preparatory action registration means. The automatic analysis system according to claim 1,
An automatic analysis system, wherein a communication means for transmitting information on the emergency inspection request between the emergency inspection request recognition means and the automatic analyzer uses a communication line. The automatic analysis system according to claim 6,
An automatic analysis system, wherein the communication line is a public line.

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